Uganda is stepping up efforts to fight cancer and improved palliative care, recognizing that treating the disease goes beyond medical procedures to include pain relief, dignity, and support for patients and families.
At the Fifth Uganda Conference on Cancer and Palliative Care, health leaders, civil society groups, and international partners gathered in Kampala to share progress and call for stronger collaboration. The three-day meeting brought together more than 350 delegates from over 10 countries, making it one of the largest platforms in Africa for advancing both cancer treatment and palliative care.
Palliative care is a type of health service that focuses on easing suffering and improving the quality of life for people with serious illnesses. For cancer patients, this includes managing pain, providing emotional and spiritual support, and helping families cope.
The World Health Organization highlights six key elements for palliative care: strong policies, access to medicines, integration into health services, education and training, community involvement, and research. Uganda has been recognized as a leader in Africa for building a palliative care system that addresses these areas.
Mark-Donald Mwesiga, Executive Director of the Palliative Care Association of Uganda (PCAU), said the conference was an important step in sustaining this progress.
“At every conference, we bring professionals together to share evidence, present research, and pass new resolutions. This strengthens Uganda’s role as a model for palliative care in the region,” he said.
The Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI), which co-hosted the conference, has worked closely with PCAU for years. Officials said government alone cannot meet the growing cancer burden, which is why collaboration with civil society, universities, and international organizations is essential.
“Cancer care is not just about drugs and machines. It is also about compassion and community,” the Minister of Health noted. “That is why partnerships like this one are so important.”
Alongside palliative care, Uganda is also training more specialists to provide advanced cancer treatment. Dr. Nixon Niyonzima, Head of Research at UCI, announced the graduation of 28 fellows who completed intensive training in different branches of oncology.
These include 13 specialists in women’s cancers, seven in childhood cancers, and eight in adult cancers. Uganda also launched its first program in urological oncology, focusing on prostate, kidney, and bladder cancers.
Two more programs have been introduced in radiation oncology and head and neck cancer surgery. Such training is critical because Uganda faces a shortage of nearly 3,000 cancer specialists over the next five years.
“By training doctors here at home, we make sure they are available to serve our patients and reduce the need for costly treatment abroad,” Dr. Niyonzima said.
Dr Jackson Orem the UCI executive director, noted that another major development is the plan to start bone marrow transplants in Uganda. “This treatment is vital for blood cancers like leukemia,” Orem state.
“A new facility at Mulago is under construction, and doctors are receiving training in India and the United States. By next year, the first transplants are expected to be carried out in Kampala.”
He emphasized that regional cancer centers are also being set up around the country, especially near universities, so patients outside Kampala can access services more easily. These centers will also double as training hubs for future specialists.
“UCI, is investing in new research areas. Discussions are ongoing with companies interested in immunotherapy, a modern treatment that strengthens the body’s immune system to fight cancer.”
There is also growing work in herbal medicine. Uganda’s rich biodiversity is being studied to identify plants with possible cancer-fighting properties.
Six experimental products have already been developed for prostate and testicular cancers, but these are still in laboratory testing and not yet available to the public.
“This is a careful process,” Dr. Jackson Orem explained. “We want to be sure that any herbal therapy we eventually release is both safe and effective.”
Even with these advances, health leaders emphasized that palliative care must remain at the heart of Uganda’s cancer response. As treatments expand, more people are living longer with cancer or dealing with advanced stages of the disease. For these patients, pain relief, counseling, and family support are just as important as hospital care.
The conference showcased Uganda’s achievements in integrating palliative care into national health systems. From community health workers trained to provide basic support, to hospices offering end-of-life care, the country is building a system that reaches people in towns and villages, not just hospitals.
“Cancer can be overwhelming, but palliative care makes the journey more bearable for patients and families,” Mwesiga, said. “It is about restoring dignity and showing that even in suffering, people are not alone.”
The Uganda Cancer Institute recently marked 58 years since its founding. Leaders said that while much has been achieved, the rising number of cancer cases calls for even more investment in people, infrastructure, and partnerships.
Civil society groups were urged to continue mobilizing resources and spreading awareness, while the private sector was asked to contribute equipment and funding.
As the Minister of Health summed up: “We must combine our efforts. Together, with compassion and determination, we can build a stronger cancer and palliative care system for Uganda.”